Manufacture of cigarettes



April 30,1935.

R. F. MAY 1,999,910

MANUFACTURE OF C IGARETTES Filed Oct. 1'7, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April30, 1935. R. F. MAY

I MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES Filed Oct. 17, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 215%. 4 m w J W A\.\\\\/ 7 g A M? j April 30, 153 5.

R. F. MAY

MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 17, 1934 Dyenar:

April 30, 1935. R. F. MAY

1 MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES Filed 001. 17, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Patented Apr. 30, 1935 MANUFACTURE OF CIGARETTES Rowland Frank May,Middlesex, England, as-

signor to Filter Tips Limited, London, England,

a British company Application October 17, 1934, Serial No; 748,745

In Great Britain July 14, 1933 l6 Claims. ihis invention relates to themanufacture oi cigarettes provided with filter tips or like stubportions.

The invention has for its primary ob ect to provide an improvedapparatus for producing such cigarettes'onrthe continuous rod principle,

i. e. by applying 'a continuous paper wrapper.

around a filling consisting of alternate lengths of tobacco and filtertips or stub portions.

According .to the present invention, an apparatus is provided whichcomprises means for cutting successive lengths from a continuous tobaccorod, an intermittently movable carrier by which the lengths of tobaccoso cut off are carried laterally out of alignment with the continuoustobacco rod, means for associating filter tips or like stub portionswith the lengths of tobacco while disposed in the said carrier, andmeans for conveying the associated lengths of tobacco and filter tips orstub portions-axially into engagement with mechanism for applying acontinuous paper strip thereto for the production of a continuouscigarette rod, the carrier advantageously consisting of anintermittently rotatable drum having parallel bores or chambers for thereception of the lengths of tobacco.

In a preferred embodiment an intermittently rotatable disc havingparallel bores or chambers therein is arranged so that at one positionthe bores or chambers in the disc register with the bores or chambers inthe drum so as to bring a length of tobacco and a filter tip or stubportion into alignment, means being provided for axially ejecting thelength of tobacco and the filter tip or stub portion from the alignedbores or chambers. I

The apparatus may be adapted to receive and associate together lengthsof tobacco and filter tips or stub portions of double the normal length,the cutter of the cigarette rod-forming mecham'sm being arranged tobisect the lengths of tobaccoand the filter tipsor stub portions.

The means for conveying or ejecting the asso-' catable slides and arecaused, as by the provision of cam track and roller mechanism, to moveclear of the carrier and of eachother onthe return stroke.-Alternatively, the picker devices may be:- mounted upon an endlesschain. l

The linear speed of the cigarette rod-forming means is eaterthan thelinear speed of the tobacco rod-forming means so as to compensate forthe additional length introduced by the filter tips or stub portions andthe associated lengths of tobacco and filter tips or stub portions arepreferably conveyed into engagement with "the. cigarette rod-formingmeans in such manner that the'successive associatedlengths are caused toabut against the preceding lengths.

The invention is hereinafter described by way of example with referenceto the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figures 1, 2 andS are fragmentary sectionalv plan views illustratingoneembodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line IV--IV, Figure 5,illustrating one embodiment of apparatus for carrying out the invention;

Figure 5 is a side elevation corresponding to Figure i with one sideplate of the picker mechanism removed to show the parts more-clearly;

Figure 6 is a plan view corresponding to Fig-. ure 5, but with the and rFigure 7 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention. I

In carrying the inventioninto effect and with reference moreparticularlyto Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying diagrammaticdrawings, the, leading length Ia of a continuous tobacco rod l issuingfrom the collector tube 2 of anysuitabletobaccorod-formingapparatus iscut off by a cutter 3 after being received into a bore or cham- 1 her 4ain an intermittently movable carrier 4, and the length la cut off(Figure 2) is carried laterally by, the movement of the carrier 4 into'a position parallel with the continuous tobacco rod l and in alignmentwith a plunger 5 by which a filter tip or stub portion 6 is ejected fromachamber 7a in a carrier 7 so as to abut against the length Id oftobacco (Figure 3) A picker 8 thereupon comes into engagement behind thefilter tip or stub portion 6, the plunger 5 being provided with a slot50. to accommodate the picker which carries the filter tip or stub portion 6 and the length la of tobacco-out of the chamber 4a into a guidetube 9 of any suitable continuous rod mechanism whereby a paper strip;is wrapped around the alternating fillings to form a'continuouscigarette rod which is subsequently cut ofi in theusual manner, thecutting mechanism being so timed that each cigarette contains pickermechanism removed; I

tion with a rotary or other cutter 3 at its inlet end in such mannerthat when alsuitable length I a of tobacco rod I has entered one of thebores 4a of the drum 4 the feediof tobacco is momentarily checked whilethe drum is moved to present the next bore 4a opposite the outlet fromthe said collector tube 2. An intermittently rotatable disc I isarranged to co-operate with the end of the drum 4 adjacent the collectortube 2- so that at one position bores la in the disc 1 come-intoalignment with the bores 4a in the drum 4. The disc! is adapted toreceive filter tips or stub portions 6 inserted from suitableapparatusI9 by aplunger I9a during the period of restofthe'disc I and of the drum4., A reciprocating plunger 5 is operated to push a filter tip from oneof the bores la in the disc 1 into the aligned bore 4a in the drum 4 andwhich contains a charge of tobacco. preferably is provided with alongitudinal slot 5a in alignment with corresponding slotslb, 412respectively in the disc I and'in the drum 4 so that-pickers B'may'engage behind the tips 6 for the ejection of the same and of thecharges of tobacco in front of the tips from the drum 4. The drum 4 andthe disc I may be geared together by the provision of pins To on thedisc I co-operating with slots 40 in tliedrum 4.

' The picker mechanism may consist of two longitudinally reciprocatablemembers I6 provided with vertical slides IDa carrying the picker members8 and having pins Iilb or rollers co-operating with cam tracks I I a ina member i I disposed between side plates I2 provided with guides-forthe members I I3, thecam' tracks Hitbe'ing arranged so thatin theforward movement-the picker 8 descends into the aligned slots db, 'Ibreferred to so as toengage behind a 'filter tip or stub portion 6 andwhen at or near the end of the drum 4 rises and returns to the initialpositionin such path that itis clear of the dru1n'4 and of theoppositely movingpicker. To ensure the engagement of the respective pinIflb or roller with the upper portion of the cam track I Ia on thereturn stroke, a pivotedmember Iiic is provided, such member I do beingnormally held in the position shown in Figure 5 by means of a spring Hidso as to be capable of depression by the pin Ilib or roller so as toallow such pin IDb or roller to pass from the lower portion of the camtrack into the upper portion thereof. The pickers 8 are divertedoutwardly at the upper part,'as shown in Figure 4, so that the lowerpartof one picker may pass over the accommodate the pickers. The membersIO'may be'treciprocated by meansof cams (not shown) which may actthereon through double-armed levers I3 or equivalent mechanism androds'l3a.

The operating'camspreferably are so arranged The plunger 5 that attheend of the ejecting stroke the speed approximates to the speed of thecontinuous paper strip M which is wrapped around the filling andpreferably also so that before the one picker disengages from the filtertip at the end of the stroke the other picker is commencing its forwardand downward movement. In order to ensure accurate alignment of thebores or chambers "Ia, 4a, a positioning pin I5 may be provided toengage in the lower pair of aligned bores before the plunger 5 passesinto the upper pair of aligned bores. A stop Iii-may be provided toprevent the tobacco rod from passing out of the drum 4 before itslateral movement'out' of alignment with the continuous tobacco rod.

If desired, the apparatus may be adapted, for instance as shown inFigure 7, so that a double length of the continuous tobacco rod is cutoff and moved laterally as before described into alignment with a doublelength filter tip or stub portion disposed in a chamber "la in the discI, such filter tip or stub portion being ejected from the disc I by aplunger 5 so as to abut against the length of tobacco, and theassociated lengths behaving parts Ba constituting links of an endlesschain Iicarried over sprockets I8, 18a and driven in any suitablemanner, a part of the chain [7 adjacent the outlet end of the drum ibeing guided over a sprocket lBb or pulley so that during the-- latterpart of its forward stroke the picker is gradually' withdrawn from theguide tube 9.

It will be understood that the intermittent, movement of the drum 4 fromone stage positionto another is effected very rapidly and the inser tionof the filter tip and the ejection of the com-' posite charge of filtertip and tobacco from the; drum 4 is so timed that in-efiect the chargeof I tobacco severed from the continuous tobacco rod; moves forward atan increased speed substantial-'- ly continuously in a path parallelwith the con tinuous tobacco rod, the'requisite forward speed.- of thecomposite filling being maintained by the. action of the picker devices8 so that the composite filling is continuous and is moving forward atthe requisite speed for reception on the continuo'uspaper wrapperHiwhich is applied around off in the usual manner by means of a cuttingdevice operating in timed relation .to the mechanism described toproduce cigarettes in which.

filter tips are disposed at one end.

In a modification, the intermittently rotatable disc may be dispensedwith and the filter tips may be inserted at the opposite end of the drumeither.

at a position in alignment withthe collector tube of the tobacco fillingmachine or at a preceding stage position. In such case the ejection ofthe composite charge of tobacco and filter tip from the drum may beeffected by picker mechanism such asbefore described operating in thereverse direction so as to discharge the filling in a direction oppositeto the travel of the tobacco rod emerging from the collector tube.Alternatively,

the ejection may take place in the same direction as the travel of thetobacco rod by'utilizing picker devices having circularor other engagingportions adapted to abut against the end of the tobacco charge.

It'will be understood that the invention is not limited toth'eparticular-details of construction on the continuous rod principle,comprising means for supplying a' continuous tobacco rod, means forcutting successive lengths from the continuous tobacco rod, anintermittently movable carrier having chambers in which the lengths oftobacco are received and carried out of alignment with the continuoustobaccorod, means for inserting filter tips or'like stub portions intothe said chambers so as to abut the lengths of tobacco, meansforsupporting a continuous paper strip out of alignment with saidtobacco rod', and means for removing the associated lengths of tobaccoand filter-tips or stub portions from the said chambers onto thecontinuous paper strip 'for the production of a continuous cigaretterod. T

2. Apparatus for producing filter tip cigarettes on the continuous rodprinciple, comprising means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod,means for cutting successive lengths from said tobacco rod, anintermittentlyrotatable drum having parallel bores or chambers for thereception of the lengths of tobacco and for carrying the lengths out ofalignment with thecontinuous tobacco rod,'means .1

for inserting filteintips or like stub portions into the said chambersso as to abut the lengths of tobacco,means for supporting a continuouspaper strip out of alignment with said tobacco rod, and

means for removing the associatedlengths of to-' bacco and filter tips:or stub portionsfrom the said'chambers onto the continuous paper stripfor the production of a continuous cigarette rod.

3. Apparatus for producing filter tip cigarettes on the continuous rodprinciple, comprisingmeans for supplying a continuous tobacco rod, meansfor cutting successive lengths from saidtobacco rod, an intermittentlyrotatable drum having a plurality of spaced bores or chambers adjacentthe periphery thereof extending parallel to the axis of the drum for thereception of the lengths of tobacco, an intermittently rotatable discpositioned with its axis parallel tothe' axis of the drum and having aplurality of bores extending 'therethrough parallel 'to the axisthereof, said drum and disc being so associated that a bore of the drumwill register'with a bore in the disc,

means for supplying a filter tip or stub portion to the bores in thedisc, means for supporting a concutting'means is arranged to cut offlengths oftobacco equal to twice the length of a cigarette, andincluding means for associating a double length filter tip with eachlength of tobacco.

5. Apparatus for producing filter tip cigarettes on the continuous rodprinciple,comprising means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod, meansfor cutting successive lengths from the continuous tobacco rod, anintermittently movable carrier having chambers in which the lengths oftobacco are received and carriedout of alignment with the continuoustobacco rod, means for inserting filter tips or like stub portions intothe said chambers so as to abut the lengths of tobacco, means forsupporting a continuous paper strip out'of -alignment with said tobaccorod, and means for removing the associated lengths oitobacco and filtertips or stub portions from the saidchambers 6. Apparatus for producingfilter tip cigarettes" on the continuous rod principle, comprising meansfor supplyinga continuous tobacco rod, means for cutting successivelengths from said tobacco through the slots rod, an intermittentlyrotatable drum having pare I allel bores or chambers for the reception.ofthe lengths of tobacco and for carrying the lengths.

out of alignment'with the continuous tobacco rod,

means for inserting filter tips or like stub portions into 'thesaidchambers so as to abut the lengths of tobacco, means for supporting acontinuous; paper strip outof alignment with said "tobacco rod, andmeans for removing :the associated;

lengths of tobacco and filter tips or stubportions, from the saidchambers onto the continuous paper strip for the production of acontinuouslcigarette, rod, said drum having slots therein providing ac-:

cess to said bores, and said removing means come prising reciprocatingpicker mechanism adapted to extend through the slots in the drum.

7. Apparatus'for producing filter tip cigarettes I g on the continuousrod principle, comprising means for supplying a continuous tobaccorod,"-

means-forv cutting successive lengths from said tobacco rod,fianintermittently rotatable drum having a plurality ofspaced bores-orchambers adjacent the periphery thereof extending parallel to the axisof the drum for the reception of the lengths of tobacco, anintermittently rotatable disc positioned with its axis parallel to theaxis of the drum and-having a plurality of bores extend; 1 ingtherethrough parallel to the axis thereof, said length of tobacco andthe filter tip from the registering bores of the drum and disc onto saidpaperstrip, saiddrum and disc having slots therein providing access tosaidvbores and adapted to register when the bores of the drum anddiscare in .register, and said ejecting means comprising reciprocatingpicker mechanism adapted to extend through the registering slotstoengage the filter tip; l ,7 v

8. Apparatus for producing filter tip cigarettes on the continuous rodprinciple, comprising means for supplying a continuous tobacco rod,means for cutting successive lengths from the continuous tobacco rod, anintermittently movable carrier having chambers in'which the lengths oftobacco are received and carriedout of alignment with the I continuoustobacco rod, means for inserting filter tips or like stub portions intothe said chambers,

so as to abut the lengths of tobacco, means for supporting a continuouspaper strip out of alignment with said tobacco rod, means for removingthe associatedlengths of tobacco and filter tips or stub portions fromthe said chambers onto the continuous paper strip for the production ofa,

continuous cigarette rod, said carrier having slots providing access tosaid bores, and said removing means comprising picker mechanism adaptedto extendthrough the slots in the carrier andfan endless chain formoving said picker mechanism through said bores;

9; Apparatus zfonlproducing=jfllterz tip; cigarettesonith'eacontinuousrod principle; comprisingmeansz:

fonsupplying aicontinuous ,tobaccosrod; means for. cutting" successive:lengths from saidrtobacco rod; an. intermittently rotatable: drum:havingparallel bores or= chambers for-ythex rec'epr tion ofz. the lengths oftobacco andiior: carrying. the lengths out of alignment withthe'c'ontinuous:

tobacco. rod; meansfor' inserting filter.- tips or like stub portionsinto the" said chamberstso: as' to' abut the lengthsrofitobacco, means-for=.s'upporting;. a continuous paper strip? outzof alignment; with-1saidtob'acco. rod, meansv for: removing'nthe' associated: lengths oftobacco; and-i filtertips' 01:! stub tportio'ns" .from thesaidflchambersonto. the continuous paperf strip" for; the "production: of acontinuouscigarette rod; said drum having: slots -therein providing; access tovsaida bores; and-said removing means comprisingpickermechanism adapt'edto extend through the slotsini, the drum and anendless chainft'n'lmovingisa'idpicker-mechanism'through said bores;

10: Apparatus for producingfiltei tip'ciga'-- ret'tes on the continuousrod principle, compris- 1 hag-means fonsup'plyinga continuoustob'acc'orod;-

means for cutting successive lengths from-said:

tobacco rod, an intermittently rotatable drum" having a plurality 'ofspaced'bores" or chambers adjacent the periphery thereofextendingiparallel tothe-axis-ofthe'drum for the-reception ofthelengthsof tobacco,-.an intermittently rotatable" disc positioned withits axis parallel to the axis 'Of. the drum and having. a pluralityofbores extending. therethrough' parallel' to "the" axis:

thereof, said drum and disc beingsoassociated that a bore of the drumwill register with a:.bore in the'disc, means for'supplying a' filtertip: or stub'portion to' thebores-in the disc,.m'eans for supporting acontinuous paper 'strip; means for ejecting the length of tobacco andthefilter' tipfiom the=rgisteringsboresof the drum and disc ontdsaidpaperstrip,:said drum and -'disc having slots therein providingaccess' to"said" bows and adapted to register" when r the bores :of the drum anddisc are in register, and said ejecting means comprising pickermechanismadapted to extend through. the'registering. slots to engage the' filtertip'and an endless" chain for? moving-fsaidpicker mechanism throughsaidbore's. i

11. Apparatus for: producing filter tip ciga-' rettes on the continuousrod iprinciple cornprisingmeans forsupplying a -contmuous tobacco rod;means for cutting: successive lengths? from the continuous tobacco rod,an intermittently mov able carrier having'chamb'ersin which tlieleng theof tobacco are received and carried out of align ment with thecontinuous tobacco rod; mesns ror inserting .filter tips or lik'e' stubportionsinto" the" saidchamb'ersso as to abut theleng t-hs of toba'cco,means for supporting-a continuous paper strip out of alignment with'saidtobacco rod,

and n'iean'sior removing the associated lengths or tobacco and filter'tips or stub 'por tion's jrom the said chambers onto the continuouspaper strip for the productionof a continuouscigare tterodj said carrierhaving slots providing. access to said bores, and saidremoving. meanscomprising a' plurality; of picker. devices, ajca'rria'ge for each,picker, means for, reciprocating each carriagev in a. directionparallel'to the boresin the carrier;

and I cam means for. moving. said: picker devices 1 laterally intoanagout; of said. slots. duringvreciprocationof said carriages;

12." Apparatusror producing 'fltrlt'i ii ci arettes on-.-the.-continucus' jrod principle, comprising! means? for: supplying a.continuous; tobacco;.-ro(r;.-

means for: cutting; successive lengths fr0mtQbQCQOrZI'Odpamintermittently rotatable drumhaving parallel boresz or: chambers forthe re! ception of the lengths of tobacco and for carrying thedengths.outxof ialignmentwiththe; continuous tobacco-rodg-imeansl for:inserting. filter tips or liherstub portions into the said chambers soas to abut-thelengthsofztobacco; meansfor supporting; at continuous;paper strip outof alignment with saidtobacco: I'Ody; and: means Y for-removing; the

associated; lengths ofitobacco and filter tips on stub portions fromthersaidtchambers ontorthe? continuouspaper" strip--for the. productionof a continuous-cigarette.rod; said drum. having,- slotsthereinproviding; access tmsa-id bores; andsald:

removinggmeans comprisinga plurality ofipicke'r:

devices; azcarriage fora each picker device means for: reciprocating;each carriage: in a' directionparallel to athezboresin -theadrum,and=:cam means" for moving said-picker; devicesslaterally into'and out:of :said slots-during- -reciprocation ofsaid carria-gess- 1 1 '13.:ApparatusfOrproducing; filter-tip cigarettesorrthe continuous rodprinciple; comprising meansfor-supplying; a; continuous tobacc'orrod;means drum and disc being so associated that a. bore of the drumwillregister withcaibore in the disc;v

means: for; supplyingra Lfiltertipror stub portion to thebores in thedisc, means .,for Su porting a: continuous-paper strip; andmeans-forejecting;

the-length of tobacco. and the filter: tip for the registering bores ofI thexdrumiandidisc;onto=saidr paper strip; said drumand dischavingslots:

therein providingaccesstto. said-bores andadapt- 3 ed: to registerfwhenthee boreszofz thedrum 7 and disc: are in register; and; said ejectingmeans com prisinga plurality of; picker devices, a carriage? for each 1picker. device; meansefor reciprocating? eachcarriage in a directionparallel tothe-"bores in the-drum andidisc, ,and. cam means .101 movingsaid lpick'er devices laterallyinto and out of' said slots duringreciprocation l of said; carriages;

14"."111'" an apparatus 2 of. the class described, "a

carrier havinga :chamberifor receiving a tobacco" rod section; means forejectingzsaid' rod section' axially; from:said c-hamber comprisinga"-pair of picker devices, a carriage for each picker device;-

means *for slidably mounting-the pickei de'vices-in said carriages;means for-reciprocatingsaid earriages in oppo'sita'directions} and cammeans-for shifting the picker devices-- into thechamber when moved inthe ejecting directionand" for shifting the} devices out of the chamber"when moved in the opposite direction.-

15ijIn anapparatus' of theclass described, a

axiallyf from said chamber comprising" a' pair of" picker 'devi'cesiaicarriage for each picker device;

mea'ns for sli'dably; mountingjthe picker devices in said carriages;meanslforl reciprocatingf said" car'- riagesfinjoppos'it"directions; ,aplate. positioned between saidv'carriagesflorigitudinally of the path Mvingachamberfor'receivinga-tobacco rod section; means for ejectin'gisaid:' rod section of travel thereof, said plate having upper and lowerguide slots provided therein extending parallel to the chambers of thecarrier, said plate also having curved slots joining the ends of saidparallel slots, and guiding means on said picker devices extending intosaid slots for guiding the picker devices during the reciprocationthereof.

16. In an apparatus of the class described, a carrier having a chamberfor receiving a tobacco rod section, means for ejecting said rod sectionaxially from said chamber comprising a pair of picker devices, acarriage for each picker device, means for slidably mounting the pickerdevices in said carriages, means for reciprocating said carriages inopposite directions, a plate extending between said carriageslongitudinally of the path of travel thereof, said plate having upperand lower guide slots provided therein extending parallel to thechambers of the carrier, said platev also having curved slots joiningthe ends of said parallel slots, guiding means on said picker devicesextending into said slots for guiding the picker devices during thereciprocation thereof, and spring controlled means for shifting theguiding means from the lower to the upper slot when the terminal of thelower slot is reached.

ROWLAND FRANK MAY. I

